UofA lost to the wretched Sun Devils 3-2 tonight, but it was a great game all the way around. Both goalies played suprisingly well, and most of the goals scored were off of garbage in the middle of scrums around the crease. A couple of observations about big-time (I'll get to that later) club level hockey:
(1) The talent gap is a lot more apparent than I really expected. It seemed like most of the kids playing on both teams had rocks for hands, and they were just slapping at the puck when it got near them. Still, they all play their butts off out there, which I can thoroughly respect since they aren't on scholarship.
(2) The atmosphere is a bit dead (no bands, etc.), but people really get into the games. I really thought a bunch of desert dwellers weren't going to really be there for the game, but they really were. Its kind of funny, though, because the locals themselves make fun of it as "desert hockey."
My favorite crowd cheer: after the announcer gives the players involved in the goal, the entire crowd yells: "He shoots he scores! Hey goalie - YOU SUCK! It's all your fault! Its all your fault! Its all your fault!" Really wasn't expecting crowd chants here, but it was fun to witness.(3) It is a lot of fun to see kids so interested in the game. There were a lot of kids there, and I didn't notice kids running all over the building like they do in BG (not that that is necessarily bad). It was just neat to see them genuinly trying to follow what was going on.
Outside of that, people in Arizona LOVE hockey! I thought I was going to get thrown out for yelling at a hockey game, but these people cuss like sailors here! And people think the language at BG games is bad...
Here are a couple of pictures from the game (if I can figure out how to post them), and although you might not believe me, there were well over 3000 people there tonight, and it was a small crowd (the arena holds 12,000). I kept saying: "man, we don't get that many for most BG games - and we're D1!"
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I also work with the team's faculty advisor, so I got to go down and meet the coach with her after the game. Although he looks like he's asleep, Leo Golembiewski is a great guy and was a netminder for the Blackhawks.
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OK, I'll stop now, because I know no one cares, and everyone is probably thinking "why didn't this sonofabitch put this in the other schools forum?" Well, I guess I just figured that no one wants to hear about club hockey in the other schools forum (unless it involves T&A - wrong IceCats...), so bite me.
I will say that I miss BG hockey like you wouldn't believe, but this is a good diversion on Friday and Saturday nights! Oh, and I did wear my BG sweater tonight, and in return recieved several shouts of "GO FLYERS!"
**edit** - OK, no pictures. Apparently I have to put them on a website according to the FAQ, and if we had about four days I'd explain to you just how far that is over my head...
Sounds like you had a great time at the game!! I am glad you found hockey out there as I knew you would be missing it dearly!! Your observations are interesting when comparing to club hockey here....basically no comparision. Sounds a more like going to minor league games!!
